Dave Thomas (golfer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dave Thomas |
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| Personal information | |
| Full name | David Charles Thomas |
| Born | 16 August 1934 Newcastle, England |
| Died | 27 August 2013 (aged 79) Spain |
| Nationality |  Wales |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1949 |
| Former tour(s) | European Tour |
| Professional wins | 18 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
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| The Masters Tournament | T30: 1959 |
| U.S. Open | CUT: 1964 |
| The Open Championship | 2nd/T2: 1958, 1966 |
| PGA Championship | DNP |
David Charles Thomas (born August 16, 1934 – died August 27, 2013) was a famous Welsh professional golfer. He was also well-known for designing golf courses.
Thomas was one of Britain's best golfers in the 1950s and 1960s. He won many golf tournaments across Europe. These included the News of the World Match Play and the championships in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. He also finished second twice at The Open Championship, a very important golf tournament, in 1958 and 1966.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming a Pro
David Charles Thomas was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He started his professional golf career in 1949. This means he began playing golf for money, not just for fun. He first worked as an assistant at a golf club.
A Champion Golfer
After a while, Thomas started playing in big golf tournaments. He won more than a dozen titles in Britain and other parts of Europe. He also played in the United States, but he didn't win as much there. Still, he did win a qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open in 1964. He also finished second in the St. Paul Open.
In 1958, Thomas tied for first place after 72 holes at The Open Championship. This was at the Royal Lytham course. However, he lost in a special 36-hole playoff to Peter Thomson. In 1966, he was again the runner-up at Muirfield. He finished just one shot behind the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Thomas was known for hitting the golf ball very far and straight. Once, during a practice round for the 1967 Open, he hit a drive onto the green of a 420-yard hole! This happened at the Hoylake course.
Playing for His Country
David Thomas played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup four times. These were in 1959, 1963, 1965, and 1967. He was very good in his single matches, losing only once out of five games.
He also represented Wales in the Canada Cup. This tournament is now called the World Cup of Golf. He played in this event eleven times! He also played for Wales in the Double Diamond Internationals in 1972.
Later Career and Legacy
In 2001, David Thomas was chosen as the Captain of the Professional Golfers' Association. This was a special honor, as it was their 100th anniversary. In 2006, he became an honorary life member of the PGA. This recognized his important contributions to golf.
After his playing career, Thomas faced some back and eye problems. He then started a new career designing golf courses. He designed over 100 courses all around the world! Some of his famous designs include Hacienda Del Alamo and the Brabazon, Derby, and PGA National courses at The Belfry. The Belfry is a famous place where the Ryder Cup has been held.
David Thomas spent his last few years living in Marbella, Spain. He passed away at his home there on August 27, 2013.
Professional Wins
- 1955 Gor-Ray Cup, Belgian Open
- 1957 Caltex Tournament
- 1958 Dutch Open, Caltex Tournament
- 1959 French Open
- 1961 Esso Golden Tournament (tied with Peter Thomson)
- 1962 Esso Golden Tournament
- 1963 News of the World Match Play, Olgiata Trophy (Rome)
- 1965 Silentnight Tournament (tied with Jimmy Martin)
- 1966 Esso Golden Tournament, Swallow-Penfold Tournament, Jeyes Tournament
- 1968 Penfold Tournament
- 1969 Graham Textiles Champion, Pains Wessex Champion
Team Appearances
- Ryder Cup (representing Great Britain): 1959, 1963, 1965, 1967
- World Cup (representing Wales): 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970
- R.T.V. International Trophy (representing Wales): 1967
- Double Diamond International (representing Wales): 1972, 1973
